Red squirrels continue to make some ground in the battle against greys

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We have previously reported on the plight of red squirrels and the sustained efforts of local groups to protect them. Now, promising updates have emerged from Scotland.

With significant reductions in invasive grey numbers in key regions, there are signs of optimism that red squirrels could soon regain territories where they had previously been driven out.

One of the most promising developments has taken place in Aberdeen, where the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) project, led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, is approaching a breakthrough in its long-running initiative to eliminate greys from the city. Since the campaign began in 2009, more than 10,000 grey squirrels have been removed. Now it can be confirmed that sightings have dwindled to just 12 in 2024, suggesting the city is on the verge of being declared ‘grey-squirrel-free’.

Dr. Emma Sheehy, head of SSRS’s grey eradication initiative in northeast Scotland, confirmed that only three individual grey squirrels were detected at feeders out of more than 5,000 checks. “This is a result of long-term, consistent trapping,” she said. “Although it may seem counter-intuitive, this late stage of the removal phase is undoubtedly the biggest challenge the team will have faced to date.”

The remaining few greys are elusive and hidden among urban areas, making tracking and trapping significantly more difficult. However, Sheehy is hopeful that a concerted final push, combined with public support through sightings and reporting, could see Aberdeen become a secure red squirrel refuge “in the near future.”

We previously highlighted the remarkable yet often overlooked success story in Anglesey, Wales, which has become a shining example of red squirrel conservation. After being driven to near extinction in the 1990s, the island’s red population rebounded spectacularly, thanks to a systematic grey eradication program and targeted reintroductions. The number of reds now sits at around 700-800 individuals, a stark contrast to just a few dozen a little over two decades ago.

The Anglesey project serves as a model for other areas grappling with grey squirrel dominance. The central lesson of this success is that if greys can be removed completely, reds can thrive even in areas where they were once extinct. This model is being adapted in other red squirrel strongholds, including Brownsea Island and the Isle of Wight, where similar eradication efforts are ongoing.

Although the situation remains precarious for red squirrels, there are also signs that their decline is starting to stabilise. According to surveys in Scotland, reds have made gains in several locations along the Highland Boundary Fault Line, a crucial natural barrier that conservationists have been using to prevent further grey encroachment into red territories. Participants reported more sightings of reds than greys for the first time in years, indicating that suppression strategies are having an impact.

Local volunteer groups led by the Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST) also continue to fight back across northern England. Spokesman Mark Henderson in discussion on a recent episode of our podcast commented on volunteers saying “if it wasn’t for their work then the game would already be up, and the red squirrel would already be gone.”

Though promising stories are beginning to emerge it is still an uphill battle. Even in areas where reds have gained ground, grey squirrels are never far off, and a single outbreak of squirrelpox (carried by greys which are immune) could reverse years of progress. Conservationists remain cautious, emphasising that continued monitoring, public engagement, and consistent management will be essential to securing the red squirrel’s future.

Red Squirrel in the forest
Peter Trimming

Duthie Park, Aberdeen.

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